Device for preventing theft of gasoline from fuel tanks



jamS, 1937. J. A. FENTON 2,066,3U

DEVICE FOR PREVENTING THEFT OF GASOLINE FROM FUEL TANKS Filed Aug. 14, 1955 z in 9 j] if a7. remi on.

Patented Jan. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics DEVICE FOR PREVENTING THEFT OF GASOLINE FROM FUEL TANKS 3 Claims.

This invention relates to fuel tanks for motor vehicles and more particularly to means for preventing the theft of gasoline or other fuel therefrom.

The object of the invention is to provide a comparatively simple and inexpensive device of the character described comprising a guard or barrier adapted to be positioned within the fuel .tank across the filling opening thereof and 'which will effectually prevent an unauthorized person from surreptitiously syphoning off or otherwise withdrawing gasoline from the tank through said filling opening.

A further object is to provide a gasoline guard or protector which will prevent splashing of the fuel from the tank and consequent loss of gaso- ..---.line through the filling opening should the closure cap become lost or misplaced.

A further object is to provide a gasoline guard or protector including a dish-shaped body portion having a perforated bottom to prevent splashing and, at the same time, permit the passage of gasoline therethrough when filling the tank, said guard being provided with a supple- 5 mental screen spaced from said perforated bottom.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efficiency.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of a gaso- 35 line guard or protector embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the 40 globular supporting feet of the supplemental screen. 7

The improved guard or protector forming the subject-matter of the present invention may be used in connection with any type or style of fuel container but is especially adapted for application to the fuel tanks of automobiles and by way of illustration is shown applied to a fuel tank 5 of standard construction having a filling opening 6 surrounded by an upstanding flange or 50 neck I, on the upper end of which is threaded a closure cap, indicated at 8.

The device comprises a body portion 9 preferably substantially dish-shaped in cross section and formed of metal or other suitable ma- 55 terial. The bottom of the guard is formed with a plurality of vertical perforations it to permit the passage of gasoline into the tank and the side walls of the guard are preferably formed with a series of radiating slots H which extend from the top of the guard to points adjacent the perforations in the bottom thereof, as best shown in Figure l of the drawing. These radiating slots supplement the action of the perforations it! in permitting inward passage of gasoline when filling the tank. Extending laterally from the upper edge of the body or guard 9 are perforated attaching lugs l2, preferably three in number, and through which extend suitable fastening devices [3 for the purpose of securing the guard within the tank with the perforated bottom thereof extending across the filling opening 5. The fact that the openings H] are. of small diameter and the slots ll narrow prevents splashing of the gasoline from within the tank and consequent loss of the gasoline through the filling opening 6 and the neck I should the cap or closure 8 become lost or misplaced. The walls of the perforations It at the upper ends thereof are preferably enlarged or counterbored, at Hi, to permit gasoline to easily enter and fiow through the perforations when filling the tank. The size of the perforations H3 is preferably such as to permit the passage of a gage therethrough in order to enable the owner of the car to determine the amount of gasoline within the tank. Disposed within the body portion or guard 9 vis a supplemental perforated member preferably in the form of a screen l5 having substantially spherical shaped supports or rollers l6 depending therefrom and secured to the mesh of the screen by means of attaching wires H. The wires ll extend through transverse openings IS in the supports l6 and the ends of the wires are coiled or bent to form hooks engaged around the mesh of the screen, as indicated at ii). The supplemental screen I5 serves to prevent clogging of the perforations lil should there be any foreign particles in the gasoline and also supplements the perforations Ill in assisting to prevent splashing of the gasoline out of the tank. The supplemental screen l5 fits loosely within the guard or body portion 5 with the support l6 resting on the perforated bottom of the guard, as shown. As the rollers move freely upon the bottom of the guard and side walls of the guard are curved when viewed in vertical cross section, as shown in Figure 1, the screen may easily move transversely in the guard and maintain a position parallel to the surface of the gasoline in the tank. This as- 55 'sists in preventing gasoline from splashing upwardly through the guard and outwardly through the neck as any gasoline which may splash upwardly through the perforations and slots of the guard will strike the screen. The screen also serves to prevent gasoline from splashing when poured into the tank through the filling neck as it must pass through the screen before striking the guard. If desired, however, the screen may be dispensed with, but it is preferred to use said screen for the purpose stated.

Should an unauthorized person attempt to remove the gasoline from the tank by syphoning off the same through the filling opening 6, the guard or protector will effectually prevent the withdrawal of the gasoline from the tank, While, at the same time, the perforations ID will permit the tank to be filled With gasoline in the usual manner. When filling the tank with gasoline, a portion of the gasoline will pass through the openings l and other portions through the slots II and, therefore, the guard does not interfere with the free flow of the gasoline into the tank, while at the same time, preventing unauthorized removal of the gasoline from said tank.

The devices may be made in different sizes and shapes and used on any type of fuel tank without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. The combination with a fuel tank having a filling opening in its upper wall, of a guard secured within the tank and extending across the filling opening, the bottom of said guard being provided with perforations, the walls of which are counter-bored to provide enlarged upper portions permitting free passage of liquid through the perforations, there being passages formed in the side walls of the guard and terminating short of the perforations, and means for securing the upper portion of the guard against the inner face of the upper wall of the tank about the filling opening.

2. A guard for filling spouts of fuel tanks comprising a body portion substantially dish-shaped in cross section and provided with laterally extending lugs adapted for attachment to a fuel tank, the bottom of the guard being formed with perforations, the walls of which are countersunk for a portion of their length to provide the perforations with enlarged upper portions and the side Walls of the guard being provided with radiating slots extending from the top of the guard with their lower ends terminating at a point adjacent the perforations in the bottom thereof.

3. A guard for the filling openings of fuel tanks comprising a substantially dish-shaped perforated body portion having a flat bottom merging into upwardly curved side walls, and a screen disposed within the guard and having depending supports resting on and freely movable upon the bottom of the guard, said upwardly curved side walls being slidably engageable by marginal edges of the screen to prevent bending of the screen.

JOHN A. FENTON. 

